Americans United - Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universitieshttps://au.org/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities
Issues related to religion in secondary schools and universities take many forms. Not all are easy to categorize. This page explores some issues that did not fit in the other categories.
enGroups Say First Amendment Does Not Permit Texas Public School Cheerleaders To Display Religious Signshttps://au.org/media/press-releases/groups-say-first-amendment-does-not-permit-texas-public-school-cheerleaders-to
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><div style="margin:0;"><div>A Texas public school should be required to prevent cheerleaders from displaying large banners with Bible verses on the field during football games, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and its allies have advised a state court.</div><div> </div><div>In <a href="https://www.au.org/files/Matthews%20v%20%20Kountze%20ISD%20FILED.pdf" target="_blank">a friend-of-the-court brief</a> filed yesterday in <em>Matthews v. Kountze Independent School District</em>, Americans United, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other religious and civil liberties groups urged the Texas Supreme Court to find that religious banners displayed by cheerleaders at public school football games violate the First Amendment.</div><div> </div><div>“High school football is an integral part of communities in Texas,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Everyone should feel welcome at those events, particularly when a public school is involved. But that cannot happen when representatives of the school, such as cheerleaders, display prominent signs with Bible verses.”</div><div>The legal challenge involves cheerleaders at Kountze High School who used banners with Bible verses to motivate the football team during games. School administrators ordered the practice stopped in September 2012 in response to an anonymous complaint. </div><div> </div><div>Examples of signs included: “But thanks be to God, which gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” and “If God be for us who can be against us?”</div><div> </div><div>After the school directed the cheerleaders to stop displaying the banners, they filed a lawsuit in a state court, which found in favor of the students. In October 2012, the trial court said the cheerleaders could display religious messages for the rest of the season. In April 2013, the school district adopted a policy allowing the cheerleaders to deliver religious messages at football games. Although it was no longer a contested issue, the trial court later ruled that the banners did not violate the First Amendment. Because the trial court did not dismiss the cheerleaders’ claim for attorney’s fees, however, the school district appealed.</div><div> </div><div>In May, 2014, the Court of Appeals of Texas dismissed all appeals related to the substantive issues of the case. Attorneys for the cheerleaders appealed, however, and the matter is now before the Texas Supreme Court.</div><div> </div><div>The cheerleaders have argued that their banners are private speech that should be protected because the large signs are not made by school officials – an argument the brief rejects.</div><div> </div><div>“The mere fact that KISD’s run-through banners are initially prepared by the KHS cheerleading squad does not insulate them from Establishment Clause scrutiny,” asserts the brief. “The banners are prepared at the behest of school officials, as part of the squad’s official duties. School officials review and approve banners before they are displayed at football games, and the District gives the cheerleaders special access to the field to unfurl and present the banners to the crowd. The Bible verses painted on the banners are, therefore, attributable to the District – a fact that KISD does not dispute.” </div><div> </div><div>Said Americans United Senior Litigation Counsel Gregory M. Lipper: “Time and time again, courts have made clear that parents – not public schools or their sports teams – are responsible for the religious instruction of children. When students are part of a captive audience at a high school football game, school-sponsored religious messages are out of bounds.”</div><div> </div><div>The brief was written by Rebecca L. Robertson of the ACLU of Texas, along with Daniel Mach and Heather L. Weaver of the ACLU. AU’s Lipper provided input.</div><div> </div><div>Other organizations signing the brief are: the Anti-Defamation League, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, the Hindu American Foundation and the Sikh Coalition.</div></div><p> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/student-religious-clubs">Student Religious Clubs</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/football-prayer">football prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religion-and-football">religion and football</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/cheerleaders">cheerleaders</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/prayer-at-athletic-events">prayer at athletic events</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/athletes">athletes</a></span></div></div><h3 >Texas Supreme Court Should Prohibit On-Field Bible Banners, Watchdog Organizations&nbsp;Say</h3>Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:55:35 +0000Timothy Ritz11285 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/media/press-releases/groups-say-first-amendment-does-not-permit-texas-public-school-cheerleaders-to#commentsCivil Liberties Groups Tell State Court That New Jersey Was Wrong To Award Taxpayer Money To Religious Ministrieshttps://au.org/media/press-releases/civil-liberties-groups-tell-state-court-that-new-jersey-was-wrong-to-award
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><div>Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have submitted written arguments challenging New Jersey’s decision to award taxpayer funds to two religious ministries.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.au.org/files/Hendricks%20Reply%20Brief.pdf" target="_blank">In a reply brief</a> submitted recently in the case of <em>American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey v. Hendricks</em>, the civil liberties groups say New Jersey is attempting to undermine a state Supreme Court ruling that bars the use of public funds for the maintenance or support of religious groups. The brief asks the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division to recognize the violations of the New Jersey Constitution and bar the state from paying planned tax-funded grants to a Jewish yeshiva and Christian seminary.</div><div> </div><div>“Taxpayers must not be forced to fund divinity schools,” said Americans United Associate Legal Director Alex J. Luchenitser. “The court should strike down these grants.”</div><div> </div><div>“The Constitution does not allow the state to subsidize the training of clergy or other religious instruction, nor does it allow subsidizing discriminatory institutions. The proposed grants would do exactly these things,” said Edward Barocas, legal director of the ACLU-NJ.</div><div> </div><div>“These grants flout important safeguards in the state Constitution,” said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to underwrite discrimination or the religious training of clergy.”</div><div> </div><div>The civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit in June 2013 after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration released a list of 176 college construction projects to be funded with the proceeds from a voter-approved bond sale. This included $10.6 million to Beth Medrash Govoha, an orthodox Jewish rabbinical school in Lakewood, and $645,323 to Princeton Theological Seminary, an exclusively Christian ministerial school.</div><div> </div><div>Courses of study at both of these schools prepare students to serve as religious leaders or religious educators. The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education’s website identifies each school as a “theological institution.” The yeshiva does not admit women and its faculty is entirely male and Jewish. The seminary requires faculty and degree students to be Christian.</div><div> </div><div>Because of their discriminatory policies, giving public money to the yeshiva and the seminary also violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.</div><div> </div><div>Previously, state officials argued that the grants were constitutional because they were made for the benefit of education, rather than religious instruction, since the taxpayer assistance is meant for classrooms, libraries and other academic functions.</div><div> </div><div>The civil liberties groups, however, reject that distinction.</div><div> </div><div>“[T]he yeshiva and seminary are part of specific churches or ministries for which they train ministers and provide religious education,” asserts the brief. “But the Religious Aid Clause precludes [state funding of] these activities even when they are not performed under the auspices of a particular church. The clause precludes taxpayer support not only to churches, but also <em>separately</em>, to the ‘maintenance of any…ministry.’” </div><div> </div><div>Along with Luchenitser, Barocas and Mach, the attorneys representing the plaintiffs include Frank Corrado of Barry, Corrado &amp; Grassi, P.C.; and Galen Sherwin and Lenora Lapidus of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. </div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/constructing-and-refurbishing-buildings-used-religious-activities">Constructing and Refurbishing Buildings Used for Religious Activities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-aid-religious-schools">Other Government Aid to Religious Schools</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/new-jersey">new jersey</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/aclu">ACLU</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/aclu-of-new-jersey">ACLU of New Jersey</a></span></div></div><h3 >Nearly $11 Million In Grants For Two Sectarian Schools Raises Constitutional Concerns, Say Watchdog&nbsp;Organizations</h3>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 18:11:02 +0000Timothy Ritz11280 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/media/press-releases/civil-liberties-groups-tell-state-court-that-new-jersey-was-wrong-to-award#commentsNew Coach, New Problems: Iowa State Men’s Basketball Coach Says He’ll Pray With Playershttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/new-coach-new-problems-iowa-state-men-s-basketball-coach-says-he-ll-pray
<a href="/about/people/ms-sarah-jones">Sarah Jones</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Steve Prohm, who arrives at Iowa State after gigs at Southeastern Louisiana University, Tulane University and Murray State University, recently told the Des Moines Register that he intends to pray with his new team.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Iowa State University has a new men’s basketball coach, and he’s interested in winning souls as well as winning games. Steve Prohm, who arrives at Iowa State after gigs at Southeastern Louisiana University, Tulane University and Murray State University, recently told the <em>Des Moines Register </em><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/randy-peterson/2015/06/25/iowa-state-mens-basketball-steve-prohm-big-randy-peterson-profile/29280315/">that he intends to pray with his new team</a>.</p><p>“I'll ask them if they have prayer requests,” Prohm said. “It's not something you're beating over their head; you want to give them a foundation, so when they leave Ames, it’s not foreign to them when they raise their kids, or have a wife – that they have a strong foundation and a strong faith.”</p><p>He said he learned the practice from his former boss, Bill Kennedy, who now coaches basketball at Texas A&amp;M. <br /><br />“Watching what (faith) meant to him – it kind of re-challenged me that I had to get invested in having a relationship with Jesus, and reading the Bible and taking time each day to do that,” he explained.</p><p>That’s all well and good – Prohm is, like everyone else – entitled to believe whatever he wants.</p><p>But it’s clear that he views his job as a basketball coach as a ministry, too. The <em>Register </em>notes that he uses Bible verses, in addition to prayer, to “motivate his players.” That would be acceptable at a private, religious university. Iowa State, however, is a publicly funded research university. And that means Prohm’s prayer practice raises serious constitutional concerns.</p><p><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/2015/07/12/coach-prohms-religious-views-lead-trouble-isu/30016857/">In a letter to the editor</a> of the <em>Register</em>, retired Iowa State journalism professor Dick Haws raised concerns about the new coach, noting that players may feel pressured to participate in the prayer practice.</p><p>“Prohm’s basketball players are impressionable young men, many still teenagers. They want to keep that scholarship, they want to play that basketball, they want to get that good recommendation from the coach. So, when coach asks them about prayer, they’ll know there’s only one right answer,” he wrote.</p><p>And according to Haws, this won’t be the first time Prohm proselytized on the job. “If Prohm holds to form, he’ll pick a particular book of the Bible to highlight here at Iowa State. That’s what he did it at Murray State,” Haws wrote. “Somebody sent me an article that told of his emphasis on the Book of Nehemiah for the Murrary State Racers in 2013. The Bible verse he selected was ‘Stay on the wall. Do not be distracted. There is important work to be done.’ The team’s practice T-shirts read, ‘Stay on the wall.’”</p><p>In its effusive profile of Prohm, the <em>Register </em>included a photo of a brick inscribed with the words “Stay On The Wall,” which can be taken as further evidence that the coach intends to continue his sectarian tradition.</p><p>Prohm’s hardly the only coach who integrates faith with his responsibilities at a public university. After all, he proudly reports learning the practice from Kennedy. There have been additional problems <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/fundamentalist-football-clemson-university-coaches-allegedly-proselytized">at Clemson University</a>, where football coach Dabo Swinney bused players to church, and at Delaware State University, where a former volleyball player <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/serving-religious-discrimination-student-athlete-claims-she-lost">recently filed a lawsuit</a> claiming that her coach had required the team to attend a Pentecostal church. That player eventually lost her athletic scholarship, an event she attributes to her decision to challenge the coach on the unconstitutional requirement.</p><p>Despite what each of these coaches appear to believe, it’s not appropriate for them to proselytize to players at a public university. Taxpayers are funding athletics at these schools, not religious ministries. And while Prohm may not believe he’s pressuring players into practicing Christianity, his actions make it clear that the Christian faith is the preferred faith of the Iowa State men’s basketball team. That will unquestionably affect players who belong to minority belief traditions – and at a large school like Iowa State, which enrolls nearly 35,000 students, those players certainly exist.</p><p>Prohm should focus on basketball, not the Book of Nehemiah. If he doesn’t, he’s creating an inevitable legal headache for his new employer.</p><p> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-distributions-events-and-evangelism-during-school-day">Religious Distributions, Events and Evangelism during the School Day</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/iowa-state-university">Iowa State University</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/athletes">athletes</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-prohm">Steve Prohm</a></span></div></div>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:09:04 +0000Ms. Sarah Jones11268 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/new-coach-new-problems-iowa-state-men-s-basketball-coach-says-he-ll-pray#commentsColo. Teacher Says Religious Activity Is Rampant In Public School Districthttps://au.org/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/colo-teacher-says-religious-activity-is
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A Colorado public high school is being operated like a private Christian institution, a new lawsuit filed by a former teacher there alleges.</p><p>Robert Basevitz, a special education instructor, has filed suit against the Fremont RE-2 School District, its superintendent and the principal of Florence High School. Basevitz alleged that the school unconstitutionally integrates religion into daily activities and that officials retaliated against him when he complained about the practice.</p><p>The crux of Basevitz’s complaint regards the Cowboy Church at the Crossroads, led by Pastor Randy Pfaff. Pfaff rents Florence High School facilities for Sunday services, which he may legally do under court precedent. But according to Basevitz, school officials do much more than merely rent space to the church. He alleges that they regularly promote Pfaff’s church and its activities to students.</p><p>“The Church is advertised by two large signs that are hung on school property and are clearly visible to motorists” Basevitz’s legal complaint states. “According to its supporters and the Church itself, its aim is to ‘get church back into school.’”</p><p>Pfaff and his congregants hold a daily morning service in front of the school’s flagpole, and according to the lawsuit, the regular prayer rally has become a bit of an obstacle for individuals trying to enter the school via its front entrance.</p><p>“With the School’s support, Pastor Pfaff has led these services, ministering to the School’s students and staff while holding a bible and using a public address system to preach his evangelical Christian messages,” the lawsuit asserts. It adds that the school often promotes these events through its public address system and flyers that list both Pfaff and Florence High School Principal Brian Schipper as contacts.</p><p>Basevitz also claimed that Pfaff “routinely ministers to staff and students through the distribution of flyers.” The flyers reportedly quote Bible verses, promote creationism and once urged students to avoid “secular Halloween parties.”</p><p>The school even allows Pfaff to host Christian prayer in a room that is set aside for him. The prayer occurs during lunch periods, a custom students have reportedly nicknamed “Jesus Pizza” due to its sectarian nature and the fact that Pfaff serves pizzas to youngsters.</p><p>The pastor and his church also use the school to host a religious-themed “scholarship night” for graduating seniors. Basevitz claims that last year, the event capped a particularly sectarian school day.</p><p>“This is not one or two isolated incidents. On a single day, there were no less than five school-sponsored religious events,” Basevitz’s attorney, Paul Maxon, told the <em>Denver</em> <em>Post. </em>“That is a pervasive involvement with religion, which is illegal.”</p><p>The <em>Basevitz v. Fremont RE-2 School District</em> lawsuit specifically alleges that on May 15, 2014, Pfaff and school administrators hosted their customary morning flagpole service, which was followed by Jesus Pizza and an all-school assembly featuring a performance by a Christian rock band. Pfaff then distributed personalized Bibles to seniors at a special event in the evening.</p><p>Basevitz, who is Jewish, complained that as a result of the school’s “highly sectarian atmosphere” students referred to him with anti-Semitic insults. And after he objected to Pfaff’s activities in a meeting with school administrators, Basevitz faced retaliation almost immediately: He says Schipper and others told him to use the school’s side entrances if he did not wish to view Pfaff’s flagpole service, and another staff member told him his complaint was “unconscionable.”</p><p>The school district finally transferred Basevitz to a local elementary school, even though he had no experience in elementary education.</p><p>“The administration is essentially running a public school as a Christian school,” Maxon asserted.</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People &amp; Events</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/student-religious-clubs">Student Religious Clubs</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-distributions-events-and-evangelism-during-school-day">Religious Distributions, Events and Evangelism during the School Day</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-displays-and-holidays">Religious Displays and Holidays</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-11219" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
<header>
<div class="image">
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://au.org/files/styles/cs_cover_thumbnail/public/Jul%20Aug%20Web%20cover.jpg?itok=l_QnFk2_" width="75" height="96" alt="" /></div></div></div> </div>
<h2><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">July/August</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
</a></h2>
<span class="read-more">
<a href="/church-state">Browse previous issues &raquo;</a>
</span>
</header>
<div class="content">
<div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-featured-articles" >
<h3>Featured Articles</h3>
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-featured_articles view-dom-id-2c0d868e4e8bd92980a42d4f5a32738b">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/featured/founded-on-faith">Founded On Faith?</a></h3>
<h4>As Denominational Ties In The United States Fray, The Religious Right Clings To The Idea That The United States Is An Officially ‘Christian Nation’</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/featured/operation-exclusion">Operation Exclusion?</a></h3>
<h4>A Misguided Belief In ‘Christian Nation’ Theology Spurs N.C. County Officials To Exclude Minorities From Public Prayers</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/featured/the-invention-of-a-christian-america">The Invention Of A Christian America</a></h3>
<h4>Scholar Steven K. Green Explores The Origins Of The ‘Christian Nation’ Myth</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/featured/au-in-action">AU In Action</a></h3>
<h4>Staff Members And Chapter Activists Spread The Word About Church-State Separation</h4> </div>
</div>
</div> </div>
</div><div class="lower clearfix"><div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-all-articles" >
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-all_articles view-dom-id-7f02384b0c584bd13fedeff5370103e7">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="cs-department" id="section-au-bulletin"> <h3>AU Bulletin</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/nevada-passes-sweeping-school-choice-law">Nevada Passes Sweeping School Choice Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/activist-says-la-public-schools-teach">Activist Says La. Public Schools Teach Creationism</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ny-governor-pushes-school-tax-credit-plan">N.Y. Governor Pushes School Tax Credit Plan </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/obama-says-religion-can-fight-poverty">Obama Says Religion Can Fight Poverty</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/nc-legislature-votes-to-override-veto-of-anti">N.C. Legislature Votes To Override Veto Of Anti-Gay Bill</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/va-county-loses-sectarian-prayer-fight">Va. County Loses Sectarian Prayer Fight</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/w-va-lawsuit-claims-evolution-is-religious">W. Va. Lawsuit Claims Evolution Is Religious Doctrine</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-people--events"> <h3>People &amp; Events</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/around-the-world-israeli-soldier-avoids-jail">Around The World: Israeli Soldier Avoids Jail For Ham Sandwich</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-muslim-in">Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Muslim In Headscarf Case </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/with-au-s-help-nj-woman-s-lawsuit-over">With AU’s Help, N.J. Woman’s Lawsuit Over License Plate Advances</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/au-wins-another-round-in-legal-battle-with">AU Wins Another Round In Legal Battle With Notre Dame Over Birth Control Access </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/voters-in-ireland-rebuff-church-with-vote-in">Voters In Ireland Rebuff Church With Vote In Favor Of Marriage Equality</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/mo-church-can-t-demand-to-take-part-in-state">Mo. Church Can’t Demand To Take Part In State Aid Program, Court Says</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/montana-school-cancels-field-trip-to">Montana School Cancels Field Trip To Creationist Ministry After AU Complaint </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/colo-teacher-says-religious-activity-is">Colo. Teacher Says Religious Activity Is Rampant In Public School District</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-books--ideas"> <h3>Books &amp; Ideas</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/books-ideas/one-nation-under-god">One Nation Under God:</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-perspective"> <h3>Perspective</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/perspective/a-scottish-ramble-in-europe-anti-lgbt-animus">A Scottish Ramble: In Europe, Anti-LGBT Animus Gives Up The Ghost</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-editorial"> <h3>Editorial</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/editorial/the-christian-nation-myth-a-pernicious-claim">The ‘Christian Nation’ Myth: A Pernicious Claim That Needs To Die For Good </a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div> </div>
</div> </div>
</div></div> </div> <!-- /.content -->
<footer>
<ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"></li>
</ul> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style ">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a>
<a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=americansunited"></script>
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
</footer>
</article> <!-- /.node -->
</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/colorado">Colorado</a></span></div></div>Wed, 01 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000Timothy Ritz11241 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/church-state/julyaugust-2015-church-state/people-events/colo-teacher-says-religious-activity-is#commentsServing Religious Discrimination: Student Athlete Claims She Lost Scholarship Over Her Beliefs https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/serving-religious-discrimination-student-athlete-claims-she-lost
<a href="/about/people/ms-sarah-jones">Sarah Jones</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">A volleyball coach at a public university in Delaware allegedly told athletes that she &#039;felt they all needed to have more God and Jesus in their lives.&#039;</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A Delaware State University (DSU) student claims she lost an athletic scholarship because she refused to attend her coach’s church. Natalia Mendieta filed suit against the university earlier this month.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2015/06/16/suit-athlete-lost-scholarship-attend-church/28828793/">According to DelwareOnline.com</a>, Mendieta alleges that DSU volleyball coach LaKisya Killingsworth required student athletes to attend services at Calvary Assembly of God. Calvary is a Pentecostal congregation affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and Mendieta, who is Catholic, says she attended services there under duress.<br /><br />“Ms. Mendieta believed that her relationship with Coach Killingsworth would suffer if she refused to attend the coach’s church and, if she did, she would receive less playing time and her scholarship might not be renewed for the following year,” the lawsuit says.</p><p>Killingsworth reportedly <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/06/12/student-says-religion-cost-her-scholarship.htm">told students</a> she “felt they all needed to have more God and Jesus in their lives.” She organized team prayers before games, handed out Bibles, and required students to attend Bible studies in addition to church services. The complaint also says that she “strongly encouraged” players to join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.<br /><br />Although Mendieta initially complied with the coach’s orders, she says she became increasingly uncomfortable with the prospect of attending Pentecostal services. And she wasn’t alone: One player even left the team in response to the constant proselytization.</p><p>Mendieta says she eventually wrote her coach a letter informing her that she would no longer attend Calvary. And that, she says, is when the trouble started.</p><p>According to the lawsuit, Killingsworth did not react particularly well to Mendieta’s letter. She says that the coach then told her she didn’t care which church she attended and told the team church attendance and Bible studies were now optional. Despite this, the coach kept adding “church” to the team’s official calendar.</p><p>Mendieta also claims that after her letter, Killingsworth singled her out for criticism.</p><p>When she and a few other players missed a curfew by a few minutes, Killingsworth informed her that she had lost her scholarship. The other players, however, kept theirs. Mendieta says she depended on the scholarship to pay for her education and is now struggling to support her continued studies.</p><p>Hence the lawsuit. It describes Killingsworth’s actions as an “inappropriate and unconstitutional endorsement of religion by a secular state entity,” and names the coach, DSU’s former athletic director Candy Young, and DSU itself as plaintiffs. It also claims Young knew about the coach’s proselytizing and did nothing to stop it – and even that Young approved Killingsworth’s decision to revoke Mendieta’s scholarship.</p><p>In comments to the press, DSU stated that Killingsworth just left the university for a position at another school. Young left the athletics department, but is still employed by DSU.</p><p>These staff changes, however, don’t mitigate the harm Mendieta alleges in her suit. As you may have guessed from the name, DSU is a public university. And that means Killingsworth, during her time there, was a public employee. The volleyball team is not a religious ministry; it’s a secular athletic program funded by Delaware taxpayers.</p><p>Killingsworth had a responsibility to respect the constitutional rights of her student athletes, and if Mendieta’s allegations are accurate, she egregiously betrayed that responsibility. There are a number of religious colleges in the country that would have permitted her to engage in these religious activities. DSU, however, is not among them.</p><p>Worst of all, Killingsworth’s actions have severely impacted a student’s ability to stay in school. That’s unconscionable. If Mendieta’s telling the truth, there’s no question that she should win her suit.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/delaware-state-university">Delaware State University</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/volleyball">volleyball</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/natalia-mendieta">Natalia Mendieta</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lakisya-killingsworth">LaKisya Killingsworth</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/candy-young">Candy Young</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/delaware">Delaware</a></span></div></div>Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:20:03 +0000Rob Boston11192 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/serving-religious-discrimination-student-athlete-claims-she-lost#commentsNature Coast (Florida) Chapter Shares Accomplishmentshttps://au.org/blogs/in-the-field/nature-coast-florida-chapter-shares-accomplishments
<a href="/about/people/erin-hagen">Erin Hagen</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/in-the-field">In The Field</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The Nature Coast Chapter 65 of Americans United started about sixteen years ago in Citrus County, Florida. We organized in part because there is a large Evangelical and Roman Catholic representation in our community, and the School System uses volunteers from these religious group to help teach an abstinence-only policy in their family planning courses. Also, prayers often accompany political events and precede governmental meetings.</p><p>The first public activity of our group was to reverse the Christian-Prayer-Only policy of the Crystal River Council in 2005. Recently, we have tried to regularly present church/state separation issues to the public in the form of guest essays in our local paper. We have had two guest editorials, one of which was mentioned in the June issue of “Church &amp; State.”<br /><br />Two years ago we started one of our most rewarding projects, a scholarship contest for public high school juniors and seniors. We offered a three hundred dollar prize for the best five hundred word essay on the subject, "Why is the Separation Clause of the First Amendment vital in America today?"</p><p>The first year we recieved only one submission, and we presented the award at the winner's high school Senior Awards Ceremony. This year we personally contacted the guidance department of each high school. One of the Advanced Placement History course teachers used the contest as a lesson plan, and we received twenty six entries. Five of us spent several hours whittling down the pile to two really good essays, and awarded both winners their prizes at a recent meeting. We made arrangements with the local paper for publicity, and were featured with a half-page picture and article!</p><p>Although it was a challenge to not be able to monitor where our information went once we contacted the schools, getting the students and their families in the newspaper photo will help next year's contest. We are very happy to have reached so many Advanced Placement History students. They learned a life-long lesson at an important time in their lives.</p><p>John Logsdon<br />Nature Coast Chapter 65</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-distributions-events-and-evangelism-during-school-day">Religious Distributions, Events and Evangelism during the School Day</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/release-time-religious-instruction-during-school-day">Religious Instruction during the School Day or &#039;Release Time&#039;</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/prayer-at-government-events-and-legislative-meetings">Prayer at Government Events and Legislative Meetings</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/chapter-action">chapter action</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-chapter field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Chapters:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/chapters/nature-coast">Nature Coast</a></div></div></div>Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:55:35 +0000Ms. Beth Corbin11187 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/in-the-field/nature-coast-florida-chapter-shares-accomplishments#commentsA Discordant Note: Even High School Musicals Must Accord With Constitutionhttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/a-discordant-note-even-high-school-musicals-must
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>An Ohio public school recently decided to give a performance of an opera that clearly promoted Christian theology.</p><p>The opera, titled “I Am Martol,” was written by Ben Richard, a choral music teacher at South High School in Wil­loughby. The main characters of the opera all have Greek names from the original version of the New Testament: Ham­ar­tolos (sinner); Kurios (God); Charis (the holy grace by which God brings people to Christ) and Peirasmos (temptation to sin). The opera’s plot is that Hamartolos is visited by God’s messenger, Charis, who offers him God’s message of salvation. Hamartolos resists an opposing message of temptation, accepts God’s message, and accordingly finds salvation and ascends to heaven at death.</p><p>This sounds like it would have made a great church production, but it’s clearly not right for a public school.</p><p>A member of the community alerted Americans United, and AU’s Legal Department advised the school that it was not a good idea to proceed with the opera. A compromise was reached. The opera was performed off campus, and no school funds were spent on it.</p><p>The editorial board of the Cleveland <em>Plain Dealer</em> had a problem with this. The newspaper went so far as to run a roundtable attacking Americans United.</p><p>Board member Sharon Broussard insisted that there was no church-state conflict, despite the clear Christian cast of the opera.</p><p>Another board member, Peter Krouse, groused that removing “anything faith-based…from the learning process distorts reality.” Of course, objective instruction about religion is perfectly acceptable in a public school, but this opera wasn’t an example of that. It was an example of proselytizing.</p><p>Perhaps the most ill-informed response came from Ted Diadiun, who asserted that Americans United was “poking [our] noses into other Americans’ business.”</p><p>People who say things like this display a great ignorance of how civil liberties are defended in America. It’s almost always because someone reached out to a national organization for help. Thank goodness groups like Americans United are there to poke their noses into other people’s business – because sometimes that “business” is trampling on the rights of others.</p><p>The Supreme Court ruled more than 50 years ago that public schools may not sponsor prayer and religious worship. It’s remarkable that in this day and age – a time of expanding religious and philosophical diversity – that no one at this school realized that this production was inappropriate.</p><p>Because that did not happen, a member of the community blew the whistle. At that point, AU stepped in to ensure that the school was following the law by respecting the rights of all of its students by not getting into the business of promoting religion.</p><p>The <em>Plain Dealer</em> may not understand this. The people whose rights were almost violated certainly do.</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Editorial</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-music">Religious Music</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-displays-and-holidays">Religious Displays and Holidays</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-11140" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
<header>
<div class="image">
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://au.org/files/styles/cs_cover_thumbnail/public/June%20web%20cover.jpg?itok=ENN9tFtW" width="75" height="96" alt="" /></div></div></div> </div>
<h2><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">June</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
</a></h2>
<span class="read-more">
<a href="/church-state">Browse previous issues &raquo;</a>
</span>
</header>
<div class="content">
<div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-featured-articles" >
<h3>Featured Articles</h3>
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-featured_articles view-dom-id-cd9b64bcdb3094e92425f8d4c33a2b2e">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/courtroom-clash">Courtroom Clash</a></h3>
<h4>Supreme Court Takes Up Issues Of Same-Sex Marriage In Historic Argument</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/left-behind">Left Behind</a></h3>
<h4>The Growing Battle Over Religious &#039;Refusals&#039;—And How Americans United Plans To Respond</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/pledge-problems">Pledge Problems</a></h3>
<h4>The Supreme Court Ruled 72 Years Ago That Public Schools Can&#039;t Force Students To Recite The Pledge Of Allegiance - Yet Some Officials Still Haven&#039;t Gotten The Message</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/au-in-action-staff-members-and-chapter-activists-spread">AU In Action: Staff Members And Chapter Activists Spread The Word About Church-State Separation</a></h3>
<h4></h4> </div>
</div>
</div> </div>
</div><div class="lower clearfix"><div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-all-articles" >
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-all_articles view-dom-id-527cc136dddfffff167fa9f3d27b2ce4">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="cs-department" id="section-viewpoint"> <h3>Viewpoint</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/viewpoint/an-evangelicals-lament">An Evangelical&#039;s Lament</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-perspective"> <h3>Perspective</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/perspective/voice-of-intolerance-the-frc-and-its-long-history-of">Voice Of Intolerance: The FRC And Its Long History Of Hate</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-editorial"> <h3>Editorial</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/same-sex-scare-tactics-no-churches-won-t-be-forced-to">Same-Sex Scare Tactics: No, Churches Won’t Be Forced To Marry Gays</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/a-discordant-note-even-high-school-musicals-must">A Discordant Note: Even High School Musicals Must Accord With Constitution</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-people--events"> <h3>People &amp; Events</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/au-s-lynn-moderates-dc-hill-briefing-on-religious">AU’s Lynn Moderates D.C. Hill Briefing On Religious Discrimination</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-flag-removed-in-ga-town-following-action">Christian Flag Removed In Ga. Town Following Action By Americans United</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/baptist-minister-slams-religious-right-for">Baptist Minister Slams Religious Right For Distorting Religious Liberty</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/religious-right-grills-gop-presidential-candidates">Religious Right Grills GOP Presidential Candidates During Iowa Forum</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/bill-allowing-ten-commandments-display-at-capitol">Bill Allowing Ten Commandments Display At Capitol Becomes Law In Arkansas</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/some-la-schools-are-teaching-creationism-activist">Some La. Schools Are Teaching Creationism, Activist Asserts In Report </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-nation-advocate-barton-s-claims-of">‘Christian Nation’ Advocate Barton’s Claims Of Russian Interpretation Debunked </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/thanks-to-au-s-help-a-reason-station-is-up-and"> Thanks To AU’s Help, A ‘Reason Station’ Is Up And Running In Mich. City</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/ex-congressman-blames-school-football-injuries-on">Ex-Congressman Blames School Football Injuries On Lack Of Official Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/creationist-ministry-head-carps-about-au-s">Creationist Ministry Head Carps About AU’s Intervention In Ky. ‘Ark Park’ Lawsuit</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-au-bulletin"> <h3>AU Bulletin</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/house-votes-to-overturn-dc-anti-discrimination-law">House Votes To Overturn D.C. Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/au-challenges-high-school-opera-in-ohio">AU Challenges High School Opera In Ohio</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/polygamists-pay-attorneys-fees-in-civil-rights-case">Polygamists Pay Attorneys’ Fees In Civil Rights Case</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/okla-legislature-sends-marriage-bills-to-governor">Okla. Legislature Sends Marriage Bills To Governor</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/tenn-bill-to-make-the-bible-its-official-book-fails">Tenn. Bill To Make The Bible Its Official Book Fails</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ky-t-shirt-company-can-violate-anti-discrimination">Ky. T-Shirt Company Can Violate Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/oregon-debates-legalizing-secular-weddings">Oregon Debates Legalizing Secular Weddings</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-canadian-supreme-court-nixes">Around The World: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Legislative Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div> </div>
</div> </div>
</div></div> </div> <!-- /.content -->
<footer>
<ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"></li>
</ul> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style ">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a>
<a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=americansunited"></script>
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
</footer>
</article> <!-- /.node -->
</div></div></div>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 03:45:00 +0000Timothy Ritz11149 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/a-discordant-note-even-high-school-musicals-must#commentsAU Challenges High School Opera In Ohiohttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/au-challenges-high-school-opera-in-ohio
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A public high school in Willoughby, Ohio, agreed to hold a student opera off-campus as a private event after Americans United raised concerns about its religious content.</p><p>The opera, “I Am Martol,” was composed by Ben Richard, a choral teacher at South High School. A member of the community notified AU that the work centered on a dying “sinner” who is visited by an angel of the Lord. The angel assures her that she can still achieve salvation if she passes certain tests by avoiding particular sins. She succeeds, and at the end of the opera, she ascends to heaven.</p><p>Americans United’s associate legal director, Alex J. Luchenitser, characterized it as a “religious opera.” In a letter to the school district, the church-state watchdog pointed out that the production amounted to a promotion of religion and would violate the First Amendment if it proceeded.</p><p>The district temporarily postponed the opera, but AU soon announced the compromise in collaboration with attorneys for the district. School officials agreed to not promote the opera and turned it over to students and parents. In addition, no school funds were spent on the performance.</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">AU Bulletin</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-music">Religious Music</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-displays-and-holidays">Religious Displays and Holidays</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-11140" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
<header>
<div class="image">
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://au.org/files/styles/cs_cover_thumbnail/public/June%20web%20cover.jpg?itok=ENN9tFtW" width="75" height="96" alt="" /></div></div></div> </div>
<h2><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">June</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
</a></h2>
<span class="read-more">
<a href="/church-state">Browse previous issues &raquo;</a>
</span>
</header>
<div class="content">
<div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-featured-articles" >
<h3>Featured Articles</h3>
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-featured_articles view-dom-id-021a31e6c9cc3fa733f7ee1658b45353">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/courtroom-clash">Courtroom Clash</a></h3>
<h4>Supreme Court Takes Up Issues Of Same-Sex Marriage In Historic Argument</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/left-behind">Left Behind</a></h3>
<h4>The Growing Battle Over Religious &#039;Refusals&#039;—And How Americans United Plans To Respond</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/pledge-problems">Pledge Problems</a></h3>
<h4>The Supreme Court Ruled 72 Years Ago That Public Schools Can&#039;t Force Students To Recite The Pledge Of Allegiance - Yet Some Officials Still Haven&#039;t Gotten The Message</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/au-in-action-staff-members-and-chapter-activists-spread">AU In Action: Staff Members And Chapter Activists Spread The Word About Church-State Separation</a></h3>
<h4></h4> </div>
</div>
</div> </div>
</div><div class="lower clearfix"><div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-all-articles" >
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-all_articles view-dom-id-4bca856999f955c0b986c58bf41a9afb">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="cs-department" id="section-viewpoint"> <h3>Viewpoint</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/viewpoint/an-evangelicals-lament">An Evangelical&#039;s Lament</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-perspective"> <h3>Perspective</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/perspective/voice-of-intolerance-the-frc-and-its-long-history-of">Voice Of Intolerance: The FRC And Its Long History Of Hate</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-editorial"> <h3>Editorial</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/same-sex-scare-tactics-no-churches-won-t-be-forced-to">Same-Sex Scare Tactics: No, Churches Won’t Be Forced To Marry Gays</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/a-discordant-note-even-high-school-musicals-must">A Discordant Note: Even High School Musicals Must Accord With Constitution</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-people--events"> <h3>People &amp; Events</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/au-s-lynn-moderates-dc-hill-briefing-on-religious">AU’s Lynn Moderates D.C. Hill Briefing On Religious Discrimination</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-flag-removed-in-ga-town-following-action">Christian Flag Removed In Ga. Town Following Action By Americans United</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/baptist-minister-slams-religious-right-for">Baptist Minister Slams Religious Right For Distorting Religious Liberty</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/religious-right-grills-gop-presidential-candidates">Religious Right Grills GOP Presidential Candidates During Iowa Forum</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/bill-allowing-ten-commandments-display-at-capitol">Bill Allowing Ten Commandments Display At Capitol Becomes Law In Arkansas</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/some-la-schools-are-teaching-creationism-activist">Some La. Schools Are Teaching Creationism, Activist Asserts In Report </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-nation-advocate-barton-s-claims-of">‘Christian Nation’ Advocate Barton’s Claims Of Russian Interpretation Debunked </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/thanks-to-au-s-help-a-reason-station-is-up-and"> Thanks To AU’s Help, A ‘Reason Station’ Is Up And Running In Mich. City</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/ex-congressman-blames-school-football-injuries-on">Ex-Congressman Blames School Football Injuries On Lack Of Official Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/creationist-ministry-head-carps-about-au-s">Creationist Ministry Head Carps About AU’s Intervention In Ky. ‘Ark Park’ Lawsuit</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-au-bulletin"> <h3>AU Bulletin</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/house-votes-to-overturn-dc-anti-discrimination-law">House Votes To Overturn D.C. Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/au-challenges-high-school-opera-in-ohio">AU Challenges High School Opera In Ohio</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/polygamists-pay-attorneys-fees-in-civil-rights-case">Polygamists Pay Attorneys’ Fees In Civil Rights Case</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/okla-legislature-sends-marriage-bills-to-governor">Okla. Legislature Sends Marriage Bills To Governor</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/tenn-bill-to-make-the-bible-its-official-book-fails">Tenn. Bill To Make The Bible Its Official Book Fails</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ky-t-shirt-company-can-violate-anti-discrimination">Ky. T-Shirt Company Can Violate Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/oregon-debates-legalizing-secular-weddings">Oregon Debates Legalizing Secular Weddings</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-canadian-supreme-court-nixes">Around The World: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Legislative Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div> </div>
</div> </div>
</div></div> </div> <!-- /.content -->
<footer>
<ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"></li>
</ul> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style ">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a>
<a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=americansunited"></script>
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
</footer>
</article> <!-- /.node -->
</div></div></div>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 03:45:00 +0000Timothy Ritz11153 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/au-challenges-high-school-opera-in-ohio#commentsEx-Congressman Blames School Football Injuries On Lack Of Official Prayerhttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/ex-congressman-blames-school-football-injuries-on
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A former U.S. congressman has asserted that coercive school prayer used to keep high school football players free of serious injuries.</p><p>The comments were made by Allen West, who represented a Florida district for a single term from 2011-13. “Now, see, I remember growing up in the inner city of Atlanta, Georgia,” West told a conservative crowd in Texas in April. “I went to Grady High School, and I played football and we didn’t have all this high-speed gear and everything like that. There was no such thing about ‘targeting.’ I mean, you were not a tough football player unless you did try to hit someone head-on.</p><p>“And even in high school, before every game at Grady Stadium, the pastor would come down and pray before every football game,” West continued. “I don’t remember catastrophic injuries. I don’t remember anyone getting carted off that field paralyzed.”</p><p>West, who is best known for spending 22 years in the U.S. Army before being forced to retire amid a scandal, seems to have a bit of a fuzzy memory. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down coercive public school prayer in its 1962 <em>Engel v. Vitale</em> decision. That means by the time West was playing football in the mid-and late 1970s, any instances of a pastor leading his team in prayer would have been unconstitutional.</p><p>West also seems unaware that <em>Engel</em> didn’t prohibit athletes from praying before games. While it did ban school-sponsored prayer, any student remains free to pray on his or her own or in groups provided no one is pressured to join in.</p><p>West is also wrong about the frequency of football injuries over time. Equipment improvements have actually reduced the number of injuries that result from playing the sport.</p><p>According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control, 4.36 injuries occurred for every 1,000 high school football players in 2005-2006. That number is two times lower than the observed injury rate for high school football participants from 1995-1997.</p><p>Perhaps the reason West doesn’t remember a lot of players being “carted off that field paralyzed” is because of a 1976 rules change that made it illegal for a player “to make initial contact with the head and face while blocking and tackling,” according to a report by the American Football Coaches Association on catastrophic football injuries.</p><p>Critics maintain that West’s comments are just another Religious Right attempt to push religion in public schools.</p><p>“The reality is, West and his allies are just looking for any excuse to inject religion into public schools,” wrote Simon Brown, AU assistant director of communications, in a “Wall of Separation” blog post. “They want to see students indoctrinated in their narrow version of Christianity, and they will spin any yarn that could advance their theocratic agenda.”</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People &amp; Events</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-11140" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
<header>
<div class="image">
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://au.org/files/styles/cs_cover_thumbnail/public/June%20web%20cover.jpg?itok=ENN9tFtW" width="75" height="96" alt="" /></div></div></div> </div>
<h2><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">June</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
</a></h2>
<span class="read-more">
<a href="/church-state">Browse previous issues &raquo;</a>
</span>
</header>
<div class="content">
<div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-featured-articles" >
<h3>Featured Articles</h3>
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-featured_articles view-dom-id-f1f48adf0f24c087f07ae82fe305da7c">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/courtroom-clash">Courtroom Clash</a></h3>
<h4>Supreme Court Takes Up Issues Of Same-Sex Marriage In Historic Argument</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/left-behind">Left Behind</a></h3>
<h4>The Growing Battle Over Religious &#039;Refusals&#039;—And How Americans United Plans To Respond</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/pledge-problems">Pledge Problems</a></h3>
<h4>The Supreme Court Ruled 72 Years Ago That Public Schools Can&#039;t Force Students To Recite The Pledge Of Allegiance - Yet Some Officials Still Haven&#039;t Gotten The Message</h4> </div>
<div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last">
<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/featured/au-in-action-staff-members-and-chapter-activists-spread">AU In Action: Staff Members And Chapter Activists Spread The Word About Church-State Separation</a></h3>
<h4></h4> </div>
</div>
</div> </div>
</div><div class="lower clearfix"><div class="frontpage-block frontpage-view-church-state-articles-all-articles" >
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-church-state-articles view-id-church_state_articles view-display-id-all_articles view-dom-id-64ee738b7a9d4afc9b2c2bfbfb4fafae">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="cs-department" id="section-viewpoint"> <h3>Viewpoint</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/viewpoint/an-evangelicals-lament">An Evangelical&#039;s Lament</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-perspective"> <h3>Perspective</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/perspective/voice-of-intolerance-the-frc-and-its-long-history-of">Voice Of Intolerance: The FRC And Its Long History Of Hate</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-editorial"> <h3>Editorial</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/same-sex-scare-tactics-no-churches-won-t-be-forced-to">Same-Sex Scare Tactics: No, Churches Won’t Be Forced To Marry Gays</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/editorial/a-discordant-note-even-high-school-musicals-must">A Discordant Note: Even High School Musicals Must Accord With Constitution</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-people--events"> <h3>People &amp; Events</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/au-s-lynn-moderates-dc-hill-briefing-on-religious">AU’s Lynn Moderates D.C. Hill Briefing On Religious Discrimination</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-flag-removed-in-ga-town-following-action">Christian Flag Removed In Ga. Town Following Action By Americans United</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/baptist-minister-slams-religious-right-for">Baptist Minister Slams Religious Right For Distorting Religious Liberty</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/religious-right-grills-gop-presidential-candidates">Religious Right Grills GOP Presidential Candidates During Iowa Forum</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/bill-allowing-ten-commandments-display-at-capitol">Bill Allowing Ten Commandments Display At Capitol Becomes Law In Arkansas</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/some-la-schools-are-teaching-creationism-activist">Some La. Schools Are Teaching Creationism, Activist Asserts In Report </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/christian-nation-advocate-barton-s-claims-of">‘Christian Nation’ Advocate Barton’s Claims Of Russian Interpretation Debunked </a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/thanks-to-au-s-help-a-reason-station-is-up-and"> Thanks To AU’s Help, A ‘Reason Station’ Is Up And Running In Mich. City</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/ex-congressman-blames-school-football-injuries-on">Ex-Congressman Blames School Football Injuries On Lack Of Official Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/creationist-ministry-head-carps-about-au-s">Creationist Ministry Head Carps About AU’s Intervention In Ky. ‘Ark Park’ Lawsuit</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-au-bulletin"> <h3>AU Bulletin</h3>
<ul class="cs-department-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/house-votes-to-overturn-dc-anti-discrimination-law">House Votes To Overturn D.C. Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/au-challenges-high-school-opera-in-ohio">AU Challenges High School Opera In Ohio</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/polygamists-pay-attorneys-fees-in-civil-rights-case">Polygamists Pay Attorneys’ Fees In Civil Rights Case</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/okla-legislature-sends-marriage-bills-to-governor">Okla. Legislature Sends Marriage Bills To Governor</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/tenn-bill-to-make-the-bible-its-official-book-fails">Tenn. Bill To Make The Bible Its Official Book Fails</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ky-t-shirt-company-can-violate-anti-discrimination">Ky. T-Shirt Company Can Violate Anti-Discrimination Law</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/oregon-debates-legalizing-secular-weddings">Oregon Debates Legalizing Secular Weddings</a></span> </div></li>
<li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even views-row-last">
<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/june-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-canadian-supreme-court-nixes">Around The World: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Legislative Prayer</a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div> </div>
</div> </div>
</div></div> </div> <!-- /.content -->
<footer>
<ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"></li>
</ul> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style ">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a>
<a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a>
<a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pubid=americansunited"></script>
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
</footer>
</article> <!-- /.node -->
</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/allen-west">Allen West</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religion-and-football">religion and football</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/football-prayer">football prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/football">football</a></span></div></div>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 03:45:00 +0000Timothy Ritz11168 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/church-state/june-2015-church-state/people-events/ex-congressman-blames-school-football-injuries-on#commentsFederal Appeals Court Says Mo. Officials Don’t Have To Give Public Aid To Columbia Church https://au.org/media/press-releases/federal-appeals-court-says-mo-officials-don-t-have-to-give-public-aid-to
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Americans United for Separation of Church and State today applauded <a href="https://au.org/files/pdf_documents/Trinity%20Lutheran%20Opinion.pdf" target="_blank">a ruling</a> that prohibits a church-owned preschool in Missouri from receiving a state grant to refurbish its playground.<br /><br />The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that Trinity Church of Columbia does not have a constitutional right to public funds. The church, which is affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, operates a Christian preschool on its grounds. It filed suit after the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rejected its application for a grant under a program that gives qualifying organizations tax money to purchase recycled tires for resurfacing playgrounds.<br /><br />The DNR informed Trinity Church that the Missouri Constitution expressly forbids churches and other religious organizations from receiving any form of state aid. It also bans the state from providing assistance to religious schools. Trinity Church argued that these constitutional provisions amounted to discrimination on the basis of religion, but the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri rejected those arguments.<br /><br />Today’s appeals court ruling upholds this earlier finding. Its decision notes that “[I]t is apparent that Trinity Church seeks an unprecedented ruling -- that a state constitution violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause if it bars the grant of public funds to a church.”<br /><br />“The court made the correct decision,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, Americans United’s associate legal director. “Churches aren’t entitled to tap the public purse to pay for their projects.”<br /><br />Added AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan, “Missouri’s Constitution does not discriminate against churches. It merely ensures that state government doesn’t spend taxpayer money on religion.”<br /><br />Americans United and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. The brief urged the appeals court to uphold the denial of the aid, saying in part, “In restricting the limited resources of its tire-mulch program to non-parochial schools, the State is merely obeying the requirements of the Missouri Constitution, and those dictates are plainly lawful under the U.S. Constitution.”<br />The brief was prepared by attorneys Heather L. Weaver and Daniel Mach of the ACLU, with input from Luchenitser. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represented Trinity Church in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Pauley case.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/use-religious-buildings-schools">Use of Religious Buildings by Schools</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-issues-regarding-religion-schools-and-universities">Other Issues regarding Religion in Schools and Universities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/constructing-and-refurbishing-buildings-used-religious-activities">Constructing and Refurbishing Buildings Used for Religious Activities</a></span></div></div><h3 >Court Was Correct To Rule Against Lutheran Preschool, Church-State Watchdog&nbsp;Asserts</h3>Fri, 29 May 2015 17:11:16 +0000Timothy Ritz11138 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/media/press-releases/federal-appeals-court-says-mo-officials-don-t-have-to-give-public-aid-to#comments